Never underestimate an apex predator — this was the lesson learned by horrified onlookers as lions in the popular Safari World zoo, Bangkok, mauled to death a zookeeper who had entered the enclosure in violation of safety protocol.
On Wednesday, the 58-year-old zookeeper named Jian Rangkharasamee made a fatal mistake despite having worked at the zoo for over 20 years. In violation of the zoo’s safety protocol, he reportedly got out of his car inside the lion enclosure, triggering an aggressive territorial response from the big cats.
Visitors in vehicles outside the open-air enclosure watched in horror as several lions mauled the zookeeper, according to a report by Bangkok Post. Some visitors reportedly tried to draw the lions away from the zookeeper, by shouting and blowing their car horn.
The lion attack on the zookeeper went on for about 15 minutes before he could be rescued. He was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.
Another report quoted Dr Thawatchai Kanchanarin, a surgeon at Phra Mongkut Klao Hospital, as saying, “Many witnesses saw the attack but did not know how to help. Tourists honked their car horns and shouted to get the lions to release him.”
The doctor said, “At first, some [visitors] thought the lions were familiar with the [zoo] officer, possibly assuming he was an owner or caretaker. The lions continued biting for about 15 minutes before [other] officials could intervene.”
Attapol Charoenchansa, Director General of the Department of Wildlife, was quoted as saying that the zookeeper may have stepped into the enclosure during the lions’ feeding time — that is when wild animals are even more dangerous than usual for anyone near them.
“It is assumed that one of them was not in a good mood and started the attack,” said the DG.
The victim’s family members — his wife and younger brother — spoke of how Jian Rangkharasamee had worked in big-cat enclosures for many years and had never been attacked.
Sadly, when it comes to wild animals, just one major mistake can be one too many, as the zookeeper found out at the cost of his life.
Following this attack, Safari World expressed its condolences and animal rights group PETA demanded relocation of the lions to a wildlife sanctuary.
